Marlins ace missing start due to right biceps tendinitis

The Miami Marlins have been dealt an injury blow with the news starter Sandy Alcantara will miss Saturday’s start against Cleveland due to right biceps tendinitis, per Craig Mish of the Miami Herald. Mish adds that the team doesn’t believe it to be serious, and Alcantara should be ready to go for Miami’s series in Atlanta starting Monday.

Alcantara is off to a disappointing start to the season, working to a 5.47 ERA through his first four starts. Though it’s an ugly ERA, it’s worth noting that the bulk of the damage was done in a nine earned run outing in Philadelphia, with his other starts giving up just three ER or less, including one three-hit complete game shutout against the Minnesota Twins.

While the news appears to be positive at the moment, there is always a bit of concern when the ace of the staff has any sort of injury concern. Alcantara has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in recent years, winning the NL Cy Young award last year on the back of a 228 2/3 inning season of 2.28 ERA ball.

Devin Smeltzer will get the ball in place of Alcantara for the first game of today’s double-header, with Braxton Garrett and Jesus Luzardo to handle the other two starts of the series.